Los Angeles Theatres: Center Theatre

4762 Whittier Blvd. East Los Angeles, CA 90022 | map |

Opened: 1926. It was on the south side of the street between Kern Ave. and Fetterly Ave. It was eight blocks west of the Golden Gate Theatre. There seems to be only one surviving photo of the building when it was still a theatre.

Architect: Unknown

Seating: 690

The theatre got a remodel in 1939. At the time it was operated by Albert A. Galston and Jay Sutton, doing business as Galston and Sutton Theatres. They also were running the Marcal Theatre on Hollywood Blvd., a house that later was renamed the World. In 1940 the firm would open the Hawaii Theatre, also on Hollywood Blvd.

An April 1939 news item about the "modern colonial" renovation. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this and other items appearing here for a thread about the theatre for the Ken's Movie Page Facebook group.

A May 30, 1939 ad for the remodeled theatre.

A May 31, 1939 story located by Ken McIntyre.

Thanks to Mike Rivest for locating this May 31 reopening ad.

On Cinema Treasures Jim Lytell and Bill Gabel commented about the theatre's decor following the 1939 remodel:

"It had push back seats, and frosted glass running lights which were over six feet tall on the side walls. The upstairs lounge was modeled after a large European drawing room. Painted scenes of gardens could be seen behind tall decorative windows."

The Center had a combination hamburger stand / snack bar that could be accessed from both the street and the lobby.

An April 1948 ad. Don't forget the Owl Show. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this.

Two "Back Streets" films playing in June 1951.

A July 1951 ad located by Ken McIntyre.

May 1954 listings in the L.A. Times spotted by Ken.

By the late 60s, the Center was a porno venue.

A 1969 ad for the Center. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating it. The theatre also tried running gay porno in 1969.

Closing: The date is unknown. It was still running in 1971 but that may have been the final year of operation.

Status: The building survives but it's been remodeled for other uses. It's now a medical clinic plus two small retail spaces.

1950s - A view east with the Center's marquee on the right. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating the photo for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group.

2007 - The building repurposed as retail space. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for sharing his photo. He has others he took linked on the Cinema Treasures page about the Center.

2019 - A view east on Whittier. Photo: Google Maps

2019 - A closer look at the former theatre's entrance. Photo: Google Maps

2022 - The back of the theatre building. Photo: Google Maps

2 comments:

SANCHEZ in EAST L. A.August 29, 2021 at 10:24 PM
I remember "The Center" theater quite fondly. An older cousin of mine would babysit us on the weekends and we'd always go to The Center to watch either classic Godzilla movies, or gory Gothic Vampire and Horror movies like "Devil Doll". I will never forget their Saturday Afternoon Matinees (in the mid 1960's)that were attended by noisy, overly-rowdy kids who would constantly be throwing food, candy boxes or drink cups at other kids, or at the movie screen. The manager or projectionist would come on a microphone and tell the kids to "settle down", or they would stop the film until we did. The outside of the building had a classic and distinctive turquoise color and animated marquee design that indicated that the theater had once seen "Better Days". By the late 1960's, the horror movies were replaced by porno movies.
CHÁVEZ'SJanuary 1, 2022 at 1:41 AM
I remember every Sunday we would go to either the Center, Boulevard or the Golden Gate theater to watch Godzilla or other kinds of horror films. We even saw the Beatles movies and all of the beach movies with Annette Funachello & Fankie Avalon.I have such good memories of those times.